MSF Hospital in South Sudan’s Lankien Hit by Airstrike, Forcing Closure

Government of South Sudan forces struck an MSF hospital in Lankien, Jonglei state, with an airstrike during the night of Tuesday, 3 February 2026. A bomb dropped from a plane hit the warehouse inside the hospital compound, destroying medical and other critical supplies. One MSF staff member suffered minor injuries in the attack.

Hours before the strike, Lankien hospital was evacuated and patients were discharged after tensions rose in the area. People reportedly fled Lankien following the bombardment of both the hospital and the town’s market that day. In the days after the airstrike, government forces were known to be in control of the Lankien area.

MSF has been forced to permanently close its hospital in Lankien, Jonglei State. The closure ends 31 years of continuous medical support. MSF had worked in Lankien since 1995, initially responding to kala azar.

Before its destruction, around 250,000 people relied on Lankien hospital for lifesaving care. The hospital had become the only advanced level healthcare facility in the region for a community with extremely limited access to healthcare. Lankien Hospital was looted, parts of it were burned, and the remaining structures were vandalised after the 3 February 2026 airstrike.

"We are outraged with what we recently witnessed at the hospital," said Gul Badshah, MSF Operations Manager. "The level of destruction is beyond anything we could imagine. " To MSF's knowledge, it appears that government forces are the only party with the capacity for aerial bombing.

MSF is not yet able to confirm which party to the conflict is responsible for looting and vandalising the hospital. AllAfrica reported that MSF called for an independent and impartial investigation into the attack. The destruction of the Lankien hospital is not an isolated incident.

Since the start of 2025, MSF facilities and staff have been affected by at least 12 attacks and violent events. These repeated incidents have forced the closure of four MSF hospitals: Ulang, Old Fangak, Akobo, and Lankien. "Attacks on medical facilities, healthcare workers, and civilians are unacceptable and must stop," said Gul Badshah.

AllAfrica reported that MSF also called on the South Sudanese authorities to provide transparent explanations, ensure accountability, and take concrete measures to protect healthcare and humanitarian operations.